F1 circuits that never happened.

After watching the BTCC around Donington today it got me wondering just how different the place would look right now if the plans for it to host F1 from 2010 hadn't fallen through. Then in turn it got me thinking about other circuits that were proposed but never came to fruition.

Proposed layout for the altered Donington circuit. Which isn't as bad as i remembered, good elevation change with the new section and of course the craner curves, redgate etc were pretty decent corners as well.

And i can not for the life of me think of anymore right now! although i'm sure there are a few.

There was a plan for a Russian GP on an island in a river in Moscow. I can't remember exactly when this was talked about, but it was in an Autosport when I flew home from a holiday, which makes me think it may have been October 2001.

A new Grand Prix in the New York City area was announced for the 1983 season, to be held either at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows, or Mitchel Field in Hempstead, Long Island (on the same site as the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cups). Came to nothing of course, although CART raced at Meadowlands.

I know it wasn't an F1 track, but Eastern Creek Raceway in NSW in Australia could have been a hugely impressive facility and permanent F1 grade race track if it had the opportunity to extract more money from any given area. That was Australia's best chance at a International permanent race track and they didn't take advantage of it. In saying that though, I'm not really a fan of the layout and the races I have seen there have been somewhat boring, but who's to say the layout would have stayed the same? It looks like a dustbowl these days though

A new Grand Prix in the New York City area was announced for the 1983 season, to be held either at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows, or Mitchel Field in Hempstead, Long Island (on the same site as the 1936 and 1937 Vanderbilt Cups). Came to nothing of course, although CART raced at Meadowlands.

I think I still have a guide that included that track. The guide included track layouts but it was poorly researched. I think it also included the new layout of the Nurburgring which had not been completed at the time, in fact I think they had both layouts on that guide.

I know it wasn't an F1 track, but Eastern Creek Raceway in NSW in Australia could have been a hugely impressive facility and permanent F1 grade race track if it had the opportunity to extract more money from any given area. That was Australia's best chance at a International permanent race track and they didn't take advantage of it. In saying that though, I'm not really a fan of the layout and the races I have seen there have been somewhat boring, but who's to say the layout would have stayed the same? It looks like a dustbowl these days though

from what I remember the NSW government was so desperate to host the motorbikes that they rushed through the circuit. The front straight was meant to be a lot longer and not sweep off to the left but go onwards, but they couldn't arrange to get the land in time, so they shortened it to what we have today. And yes it's a dustbowl, that's what happens when you chop down every tree in a dry area.

I've been to Eastern Creek many many time but it's a poor circuit for drivers and spectators

Here is a project I worked on a several years ago in Palm Springs, CA - Phase one of a two phase plan. The "International Circuit" was slated to be FIA certified.

The stars weren't lining up, so I bailed from the project. Today, I would vastly reconfigure the development. The parcel remains available (640 ac) plus adjacent land (400+ ac) can still be optioned for commercial developments.

Yes it does, doesn't it! I was invited to participate later in the development, so I didn't have a hand in the layout/configuration elements. They were penned before I got involved. I suggested several times to bring in a professional designer, but that was rebuffed by the point-man and his architect. What it looked like really didn't matter at the time... For me anyway, it was the concept of developing a motorsports complex and technology center that was at the core of the business plan and financial model, bringing jobs to the area, etc. etc.

There was a plan for a Russian GP on an island in a river in Moscow. I can't remember exactly when this was talked about, but it was in an Autosport when I flew home from a holiday, which makes me think it may have been October 2001.

Ngatino was the initial Russian plan in the early 2000s. However nothing seemed to happen. A Lotus/Caterham (from memory) did demonstration laps around Moscow recently around a temporary circuit which would have been amazing to race on, but it would also involve shutting down most of Central Moscow.

There are some ridiculous examples of this. Spa, Assen, Thruxton and even Istanbul Park are glorious examples of not doing it. But essentially it means spending more money than you absolutely have to, which is apparently fine when it comes to designing your massive trackside buildings but not on when it comes to purchasing land.

This onboard makes it look good too, bearing in mind it only a F-BMW car its got some quick, challenging corners in there and does flow well. Would be interested in seeing what a bona fida F1 car could do around there.

Just looked up the '91 World Sportscar race that was held there, tediously interesting bit of useless info, Keke Rosberg took part in the race too, pedalling a Pug 905. So thats both father and son he has raced against, like i said, useless info.